Health and Safety
We're Here to Make Our Industry Safer.There is no doubt that construction is one of the most dangerous industries in the UK. Every year dozens of people die on site, several thousands get injured or develop work-related health problems. This is why improving health and safety on construction sites plays a key role in UCATT's daily work and ongoing campaigns. We want employers to comply with the existing health and safety regulations, and we want workers to know their rights. Every worker also needs to have a good grasp of major workplace dangers so they can contribute to a better protection. In the section Key Health and Safety Issues you find information about major health and safety issues such as:
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News Archive
Key Health & Safety Issues
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Monday, 17 November 2008
Needlestick injuries
Who is at risk?
A variety of workers are at risk to suffer from a needlestick injury during their daily activity. Workers with high risks include those working in the healthcare sector, as well as workers in the prison and probation services, police and social work. However, also construction maintenance workers and those in the demolition industry can be exposed to this hazard when needles are not properly disposed.
What is the risk?
The main risk from a needlestick injury is exposure to blood-borne viruses (BBV), such as
Hepatitis B (HBV),
Hepatitis C (HCV) and
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Of these three viruses a vaccination exists only for Hepatitis B – no vaccination exists for Hepatitis C and HIV.
Workers can acquire a BBV infection when the skin is punctured or scratched by a needle or sharp device and they could therefore could have been exposed to infected blood. Other ways to be infected from infected blood or body fluids can be through the eyes, inside of the mouth and nose.
The prevalence of blood-borne viruses in the general UK population is generally low and the risk of infection from needlestick injuries remains low.
Stay safe
- Do not put your unprotected hands anywhere you cannot see.
- If you cannot see what you are going to touch, wear appropriate protective gloves.
- Cover any cuts or abrasions with waterproof plasters.
- Under no circumstances should any worker be expected to touch a discarded needle with their bare hands.
- Where needles are found there must be a procedure for safe disposal.
What to do after a needlestick injury has occurred
It is normally recommended that if a needlestick injury occurs the bleeding should be encouraged and the wound washed in warm running water with soap.
After this immediate medical treatment should be sought. If a needlestick injury has taken place the worker must be offered counseling and periodic monitoring, as blood borne viruses can have long incubation periods.
Post-exposure treatments are available for Hepatitis B and HIV. These treatments may reduce the likelihood of contracting the disease. Nevertheless treatment is unpleasant and can cause significant side effects, and there is no guarantee that it will be successful. Any treatment requires prior counseling and professional advice to ensure that the procedures and possible effects are fully understood.
Checklist for Safety Representatives
- Are there any workers who might be at risk of needlestick
- injuries?
- Is the risk of needle stick injury addressed in a risk assessment?
- Is there a policy on needle stick injury, and has a safe system of work been developed?
Does the policy include:
- how to deal with needles found or reported
- the use of personal protective equipment
- safe disposal
- first aid (including access to warm water)
- post-exposure arrangements
- reporting
- Is the policy fully followed?
- Has training been provided?
- Is information provided on the number of needles workers have been exposed to and any injuries?
- Has the issue been discussed at the safety committee?
Legal Background
Every employer has a duty under the law to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of the workforce.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 place many detailed requirements upon employers, including to carry out risk assessments to identify risk and take the necessary steps needed to remove, or reduce and control, that risk.
Once a risk assessment is completed, a policy and procedure must be developed to ensure that the work can be performed safely.
The Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 require that employers have to involve and consult with safety representatives.
When devising a suitable system of work – both generally and with regards to risk of needlestick injuries - workers must be involved, usually through their safety representatives.
The main Regulations addressing the reporting of accidents are the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995. RIDDOR does not automatically cover needlestick injuries unless they result in an absence from work of more than three days or the injured person become infected with hepatitis B or HIV. All needlestick injuries should be reported to management and recorded in the accident book.
Further information links
If there are any further concerns or questions do not hesitate to contact your UCATT safety representative or regional office.